The Tamil Nadu government has launched a slew of initiatives to upgrade and modernise the farm sector.

In the revised budget for 2016-17 presented today, the government has spelt out a number of initiatives to modernise the sector and strengthen infrastructure.

The Finance Minister O Panneerselvam said the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1987 will be amended to improve the efficiency of the agricultural markets. These will be upgraded and integrated with the commodity markets with adequate financial support.

A special project for supply chain management of perishable commodities such as fruits and vegetables is being implemented in 10 districts at a cost of ₹398 crore. This will be extended to other districts, if needed.

Grains production The government has set a foodgrains production target of 147 lakh tonnes for the year. It will implement a new scheme for dry land farming focussed on millets, pulses and oilseeds with water conservation as an integral part.

To attain self-sufficiency in pulses production, the government will target cultivation of green gram, black gram and red gram under irrigated conditions. Over 27.50 lakh acres will be brought under cultivation targeting an overall production of 9.80 lakh tonnes.

Micro-irrigation will be expanded with subsidies at a cost of ₹319 crore.

Dairy development A new product dairy will be established at a cost of ₹45 crore in Madurai to promote the sector in the southern parts of Tamil Nadu. The new dairy will produce a range of milk products, including ice-creams.

Over the last five years, new dairy projects in Perambalur and Tiruvannamalai and a dairy product unit in Ambattur, Chennai, have strengthened milk procurement by Aavin, the dairy cooperative and supported farmers.

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